Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-12-30


lack of that sufficient repose SO necessary
for the young; but now sleep-the sol,
luxury of the poor and the toll worn-in
duced by comparative comfort, came upol
Dick, and his dog crept close beside him
He must have lain thus for some hours
When full consciousness returned, b,
knew not Whist the time was, whethe,
midnight or the early winter morning
but the short day had evidently passed
and complete darkness set in.
He knew perfectly where he was, bu
lay still, feeling, the while, every limt
stiff and sore; and it was something like
miracle that fever did not attack him
He was about to doze off again when hs
was reused by the vehement yelping Of
Bingo, whom he found effectionately lick
ing his hands and face; and then the more
furious barking Of the dog thoroughly
aroused him.
| red, hszy light flashed along the LOFT
In which he lay, showing the bare and
cobwebby rafters above, the piled straw
below, and q couple of men making their
way toward him, one armed with 8
double osrrelled gun and the other with
pitchfork TIE first, by his costume,
appeared to be farmer, in shooting coat,
ample waistcoat and long CATERS, fat,
coy and well-to-do looking; the other q
shock-headed yokel in knee breeches,
hob nailed shoes, and the inevitable
smock frock. which, as it is the attire of
the Norman peasants, probably came into
England with her conquerers.
"Come, tumble up" cried the farmer,
angrily. "How many more of you are
there among that straw"
A great alarm fell upon Dick, and all
his spirit had departed now. Tears
started TO his eyes again, as he thought
OF Melanie and his poor lame brother,
both so loving and tender.
eyes," he muttered; "I shall be muir
dered now, suppose, and no one will
hear Of it-how or whereof
"Tumble up and toddle out, I say"
cried the farmer sgsin, striking the butt
end Of his gun on the floor. "You are
one OF those rascslly tramps that steal my
hens and set my barns fire by smoking
among the hay and straw. Of with you
all, or l shall summon the policeI'
"All?-I am here alone, sir" said
Dick, staggering up with difficulty, and
half blinded by the glare of the lantern
held before his eyes.
"There ein't no more than this boy,
Mr.. Mopps," sHid the yokel, after peering
about and procding the straw with his
pitchfork
"Where do you come from-who are
your friends, you young Warmth"
"Oh, SIR" said Dick, now almost in
capable of standing, edo be kind, please;
have neither father nor mother nor
home"
This broke down the indignation of the
farmer, who of late had suffered much
from the depredations of "tramps," IS ne
called them, who had robbed his hen
roosts, and fred his hayricks more than
once by the reckless use Of lighted match
es; but he was kind hearted mEn and
saw that the boy, if pale, sorely tagged
and "seedy" in aspect, wss handsome
one, with crisp golden hair, and honest,
fearless blue eyes,
"Come down from this place and let US
have a look st you," eaid he, 10th to be-
come too pitiful suddenly; and Dick toll
lowed him from the lott down the ladder,
into the keen air OF the winter evening,
where he fell in heap, half lifeless on the
ground.
"Wiie! wife! look here!" cried Farmer
Mopps, in great dismsy, as he carried
Dick into the kitchen and set him in g
chair near the FIRE.
"Oh, NANNY" cried little girl, peep
ing fearfully st him, 'ithis is the boy-the
boy who pulled me out of the water!"
"And who ran away bef1r could thank
him." exclaimed the farmers wife. $50
be is, John-the same boy-poor child,
be looks like death"
"DaDg it," cried the farmer, ISIS this
the case? Was it you that saved my little
lass from the duck pon6?"
But Dick was past responding; he
could only gasp an assent. while the
smaller children gathered round him in
fear and wonder, but the unwonted
warmth brought back circulation, life and
energy to Dick quickly now, amid the
many comforts Of the spacious farm
kitchen.
Long before the present time, the farm
house had been manor, and hence was
huge, rambling, struggling and very
quaint, but very comfortable. There were
spacious old wainscotted parlors, where
many glass of old port had been drunk
to "the king over the water, and the con-
fusion of oil Hanover rats" and where
the squires Of the past had hung their
swords, their whips ard their hunting
gear, but were now used IS storage rooms
for bacon and apples, potatoes and lum-
Der.
The family of Farmer Mopps, il would
sppeer, were just about to sup when
Bingo's barking had sounded an alarm
snd drawn attention to the supposed
tramp in the strsw-loit.
a fire blazed up the spacious chimney,
which was lined by old blue Delft tiles
the red brick floor was closely swept and
slightly ssnded, yet not foot-step had
msrred its perfect cieanness and neat
ness; snow-white cloth covered the
heavy osken table, and thereon were ties
and hot cakes for the children, cold beef,
pie, and tapksrd Of brown October fer
the farmer. So ere long Dick found him
self in clover, thoroughly renovated, and
in the eyes of the old couple the little
hero of the house, Gs the saver OF their
eldest daughter from the depths of the
duck pond.
On being questioned about himself, he
became unusually reserved for his years,
and passing over his military aspirations
snd the episode connected Herewith, he |
only stated that he had run away from
home in consequence of i'll treatment land |
received the unpalatable advice that it |
was his duty to return to that home at
once, wherever it was.
Burly Farmer Mopps wss full Of fun |
and jollity, and sung merrily to his |
child, who crowed upon his |
knee. Among other ditties was one |
which was painted upon his huge ale